Big win for Blyth RFC over Whitby in Durham & Northumberland Division Two

Blyth RFC in action

Published:12:18Monday 07 November 2016

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Blyth 7

Whitby 5

Durham & Northumberland Division Two

Blyth rugby club took a big step towards turning their season around.

With only one win in the league so far this season and a string of below par performances, the players responded during the week at training, putting in two hard sessions to prepare for the high-flying visitors on Saturday.

Blyth season has been dogged by player injuries and unavailability, and this week was no different with several regulars out injured a number of fringe players had their chance and they took it well in a match, played in terrible conditions.

The Blyth players from the start made it clear they were up the win, with some committed tackling, with players showing passion and character some times missing this season, to Harry and eventually smother the attacks of the polished Whitby back line.

The conditions led to numerous scrums and Blyth came out even, although missing several front row players, those that played were aggressive and never gave any ground.

It was against the run of play, when a strong run from Whitby saw them score in the corner, there was never any feeling that the floodgates would open and from the resulting kick off Blyth again attacked with energy and Whitby were forced to defend strongly.

The competitive nature of the game saw both sides use their replacements and a turning point for the home side saw Coach Scott Robinson replaced his son as scrum half and within minutes saw an opening to dart through for the decisive try, converted by Cliff Brooks.

Man of the match for Blyth was Wayne Davies who stepped up to captain the side with club captain out injured, other players lauded in the bar afterwards, Dan Cole in the front row, Cole Charlton playing with injury had one of his best games, and the welcome return of Liam Heslop who added pace and skill to the back line, with Chris McGlen a promising young player coming though the ranks.

Blyth seconds shorn of several players were no match for the University side, but Blyth third team hosted Jarrovians, again in terrible conditions, with so many players injured it looked as if they would kick off with only 14, when Keith Bell answered a late call and turned up as the sides kicked off.

Whilst it wasn’t a classic, both sides tried to play with Blyth running out winners four tries to one, with scores from Keny Robinson, Dan Patterson, Adam Calvert and Andy Talbot.